Tag Archives: Leah Landrum Taylor

Gould and Landrum Taylor’s votes in favor of holding a formal investigation of Bundgaard were expected, so observers at yesterday’s meeting were most interested to see how Biggs and Yarbrough would vote.

A handful of Democratic lawmakers held a press conference today to announce they are donating their special session paychecks to a nonprofit employment assistance organization and chastise their Republican colleagues for not extending federal unemployment benefits.

As near-daily revelations pour out of the Fiesta Bowl investigation, allegations that lawmakers benefitted from the besmirched bowl game’s largesse may come back to haunt their campaigns.

Among the allegations in a 276-page report — the result of an investigation commissioned by the Fiesta Bowl board of directors — were claims that bowl lobbyists illegally gave football tickets to legislators. In subsequent days, it was learned that Fiesta Bowl trips and gifts that are perfectly legal weren’t listed on many of the lawmakers’ financial disclosure forms.

Arguing that the move would make it easier to secure the chamber, Senate President Russell Pearce on Tuesday issued a memo saying press conferences that are open to the public will no longer be allowed inside the Arizona Senate building.

Senator-elect Andy Biggs will not only head the Appropriations Committee – where the budget bills are traditionally assigned – the Gilbert Republican also was appointed as vice chairman of the Government Reform and Judiciary committees.

Sen. Rebecca Rios, an Apache Junction Democrat and the assistant minority leader, will likely succeed Sen. Jorge Garcia, the Democratic leader who is termed-out and is running for the Corporation Commission.